Deadline: September 5, 2023

About EHC’s FIRE Grants

The FIRE Grant program (Funding Indigenous Resurgence in Edmonton) provides funding assistance—up to $10,000—to Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) individuals and organizations to support projects that help tell important stories about our community.

The FIRE grant program is designed by Indigenous people for Indigenous people. This program supports Indigenous peoples’ inherent right to self-determination and cultural resurgence, and we hope to provide folks with the support and resources to advance their brilliant work.

What we offer FIRE grant recipients

• Ongoing support – our experienced team offers project mentorship throughout the entire application process
• Connections – we will facilitate connections with other grantees, professionals, and organizations that will advance your project, such as Arts Habitat Edmonton who will help in your search for venues and spaces in Edmonton to suit your project needs
• Promotion – we will use our platforms to share your story, spotlight your work, and inspire others
• Continued relationship – we will continue working with you to help build your capacity to apply for other grants, such as the EHC’s Heritage Community Investment Program (HCIP) grants

EHC is pleased to partner with Arts Habitat Edmonton for the FIRE project grant. Arts Habitat is a non-profit organization with a mission to advocate for, identify, manage, and build appropriate, accessible spaces for the arts in Edmonton and area. They are committed to connecting with FIRE applicants to support their search for venues and spaces in the city that will suit their project needs.

Would you like to have a phone call or Zoom meeting to chat about your grant application? We can provide support throughout the application process including assistance with putting together a budget or project description and helping to explain any of the questions in the form. We can also answer any questions you have about required materials or your eligibility. Contact Indigenous Initiatives Lead Jessica Johns at jjohns@edmontonheritage.ca

HOW TO APPLY

Please download and complete the budget form and then:

• Fill out the application form.

OR

• Answer all the questions (which you can download here) in a video recording (max 15 minutes) and send as an attachment to Indigenous Initiatives Lead Jessica Johns at jjohns@edmontonheritage.ca

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

• The applicant must be a First Nations, Métis, and/or Inuit person over the age of 18.
• The applicant cannot currently have a FIRE funded project underway. Applicants can only receive one FIRE grant per calendar year.
• The applicant must be up to date with final reports for other EHC-funded work, including returning any unused grant funds. Applicants who have been granted extensions on other EHC-funded work are also not eligible to apply.
• The project must explore Indigenous history or heritage with a connection to arts and/or storytelling.
• The project must have clear start and end dates with a specific scope of activities (if applying as a non-profit or collective, your project must be distinct from your organization’s ongoing operations or programs).
• The applicant must be an individual, registered non-profit society, or collective of individuals whose residence, location of work, or proposed project is in the Edmonton metropolitan region.

Please note: if you are an Indigenous person living on a First Nations reserve or Métis settlement in Treaty 6 (eg. Kikino Métis Settlement, Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement, Alexander First Nation, Enoch Cree Nation, Paul First Nation, Maskwacis, Saddle Lake Cree Nation, Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, Beaver Lake Cree Nation, Cold Lake First Nation, Frog Lake First Nation, Whitefish Lake First Nation, Heart Lake First Nation, Kehewin Cree Nation, O’Chiese First Nation, Samson Cree Nation, Sunchild First Nation, Michel First Nation, Papaschase First Nation) and have a heritage project relating to amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton), you are eligible to submit.

FIRE Grants exclude educational institutions and government owned and/or operated facilities. Individuals employed by these institutions are eligible if they can demonstrate that the project is outside of their professional role within the organization.

WHEN IS THE DEADLINE?

The Spring 2023 deadline of April 21 is now past. Applications are not yet open for the Fall 2023 deadline of September 5. Subscribe to The Beacon to stay informed on future deadlines and more.

Download a PDF of the full grant guidelines here.

Read about past FIRE recipients here and here.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE?

Find the answer to your question on our FIRE FAQs, or contact program staff at fire@edmontonheritage.ca.

Or check out our brand new series of short videos for helpful hints on how to make an outstanding application.